Stakeholder inception meeting on a national analysis to transform longline fisheries in Barbados

Within the framework of UNCTAD and DOALOS’s  Evidence-based and policy coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies (OETS) project in Barbados, a virtual national stakeholder inception meeting to transform the longline fishery through expansion of its production whilst tackling input cost reduction was co-organised with the Barbados Fisheries Division on 4 February 2022.

As part of the key milestones of the OETS project in the country, the objective of the meeting was to present to the stakeholders the design and methodology of (i) a country report that will update the economic valuation of the Barbados longline fishery with a focus on landings, costs, net profits, return on investment and opportunities for digital transformation with a view to reduce input costs; (ii) the investigation to explore the market potential for both local and export for Swordfish; (iii) the experimental fishing exercise to identify the best fishing techniques and costs for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) harvesting; and (iv) a training exercise to demonstrate best practices for the use of de- hooking devices for the release of endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species such as sea turtles and sensitive species such as blue and white marlins.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite the longline fisheries sector in Barbados contributing to over 90 per cent of the island’s total catches of  tunas, billfishes and swordfish, and generating direct and indirect value-added economic impacts valued at $5.3 M, as well as other economic opportunities such as a strong global demand for raw fish and increased capture and export potential of the sector’s key products (e.g., tuna and swordfish),  stakeholders face challenges to fully maximise the benefits from these opportunities. Stakeholders at this meeting agreed that increased understanding of benefits arising from sustainable fisheries sector and  improved and strengthened capacity of stakeholders are especially crucial as the country recovers economically post-COVID-19 pandemic.

The way forward

The activities presented to 20 national stakeholders at the meeting reflect the key objectives outlined  by the Government of Barbados under the OETS project, to be implemented within the span of six months and envisaged to continue beyond the OETS Barbados project timeline. A recently published UNCTAD-DOALOS-FAO report on the country’s large pelagic longline fishery provided the baseline information relevant to necessary further analysis and consultations with all relevant stakeholders.

This meeting is one of the first of a series of national consultations to ensure stakeholder engagement, buy-in and definition of the implementation plan are demand-driven and at the core of the actualisation of strategic actions to support sustainable trade in Barbados’s longline fishery sector.